Vatican's message to Buddhists on Vesakh

The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue has issued a message on the occasion of the Buddhist feast of Vesakh themed ‘Christians and Buddhists: Walking Together on the Path of Non-Violence’.

The message, signed by Council President, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran and Council Secretary, Fr Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, MCCJ emphasises the urgent need to promote a culture of peace and non-violence as both these values were promoted by Jesus Christ and Buddha.

The text reiterates how Jesus walked the path of nonviolence to the very end, to the cross and calls his followers today to embrace his teaching about nonviolence. Buddha also heralded the same message and encouraged all to overcome the angry by non-anger; overcome the wicked by goodness; overcome the miser by generosity; overcome the liar by truth.

The message calls for a common enterprise, to study the causes of violence, combat violence and to pray for world peace while walking together on the path of non-violence.